Hankins Lumber Company in Elliott, Miss. announced last week that it would temporarily cease operations beginning January 6. According to Office Manager Jerry Pegg, employees were told that operations will be suspended until the lumber market improves.

“We’ve taken extreme hits with the market, and we need to do what needs to be done to keep this company viable for the long term,” commented Pegg. Pegg said the shutdown could last up to six months and will affect the majority of the company’s 150 employees.

Hankins Lumber provides and sells treated Southern Yellow Pine dimension lumber, small timbers and boards to retail and housing markets across the United States.